Peneda-Gerês Trail Adventure, Portugal: the Best European stage race you can sign up to!

Peneda-Gerês Trail Adventure, a 5-8 days race organised by Carlos Sa, a famous Portugal ultra runner who've completed several Marathon des Sables and UTMB and LOVES his national park!
The paths taken are wonderful going from eucalyptus fields to wester canyon, jungle, river crossing, ancient bridge! you will see EVERYTHING during this stage! You can do as an individual or a team, the long or shorter (starter) version. We did the long version as a training for Perou so signed up as a team and how much fun we had!!!

This adventure starts with the organisation picking you up at the airport and helping you settle in Arcos de Valdevez where the first stage will be held the next morning. It is a small village with great food and nice views! Mick and I joined our friend Helene from Reunion Island to eat in our first portuguese Barbeque (Braseiro) Chicken and man it's good! It's with a fully content tummy that we fall asleep!

Day 1- 42 Km with 1800D+/1800D

This stage constitutes of doing a loop going up through eucalyptus fields, small villages full of greenery and the most welcoming people ever and going down some western movies looking fields full of suspended rocks, paved tracks very beautiful and an awesome river crossing!
When you finally reach Arcos again, you can relax on their " lake beach" near the hotel, eat great local foods or enjoy the spa at the hotel! A nice first stage!

Day 2 is another 42 km but with 2000D+/2100D-

Legs are feeling the elevation gain and lost of the first day, we take a bus to Sistelo a cute little village not far from Arcos. We start slow going up to cross another small village before carrying on until Branda Da Avelera. It's very warm but not complaining, we like it better than rain ;) We go up a bit more before going down and cross some soggy fields with these scary looking but relaxed cows. We reach the half way point for the starter via wine fields, go down some river looking paths before crossing another river to reach Melgaco village. The huge lunch full of fresh local food and beer is welcomed as well as the massage! It's an opportunity to really share our experience with the other runners we've been running with on that leg.
Such a nice bunch from all over the world ( Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Singapore, Costa Rica and America!!!), it's ecstatic! We carry on our conversation in the bus to our next hotel destination, tomorrow is promising to be yet another beautiful part of the park.

Day 3, 30 km with 1000D+/1000D-

I'm so glad we don't have to run another marathon but can't wait to see what Carlos have chosen to show us. We take the bus to Peneda, a BEAUTIFUL place with just a hotel and a church at the centre and the villagers are scattered around. We go up the road we came from before going down to the first aid station, we don't stop it's only been 8 km, we go up again in a savannah playground, I can pictures elephants and lion living there, it changes dramatically as soon as we start our small descent to the next check point! It's a dramatic change of scenery is less than a kilometer! We eat watermelon and dry ham before starting our last up hill and soon reach Castro Laboreiro. I'm tired but so glad to be with Mick! We spend more time taking pictures and embracing the views than actually racing and it's nice! The after race is brilliant with a visit to the  Castro Laboreiro Kennel and a nice "apero" with the Luxembourg group!
PS: Castro Laboreiro is also a rare dog breed unique to Portugal! http://www.castrolaboreiro.co.uk/ ! it is such a nice breed looking good for ultra running!!!

Day 4- 29 km with 1300D+/1500D

We are back in Peneda, but this time we are going to the opposite direction. First going down to go up a loonnnng road tp the first check point. My! This piece of road was something! walking was too slow and running was too fast! But at last, we reach the aid station which means we are not going down towards the reservoir! Another paved path so pretty I wanted to do it again! We soon reach the half way point of the starter race and see the top 5 of that race! They look so fresh it's incredible! I'm not looking that great haha but I'm enjoying so much of the scenery and the energy of the runners is so contagious we carry on down to a nice little river with a bridge, up some crazy jungle looking path to reach the reservoir, which means that straight up ahead there will be the castle!!! Reaching the top, we happily eat with the other runners talking about how the day went! We rush as we need to take the bus to Montalegre ( a 2 hour drive), the bus driver doesn't use GPS there, so we got a bit lost adding some more fun :), reaching the hotel, I'm baffled! it's such a nice hotel my gosh, with a sauna and everything!



Day 5- 25km 940D+/830D-

I can't believe it is the last day! Legs are not sore but heavy! We start by going around the Montaglegre Castle before going down to reach the beaten path. My mind is not in a great place! there is too much continuous running involved and my tummy ache I've been dragging for 2 days is playing up! Lucky I have Mick with me, pushing me to keep going, as well as  runners trying to cheer me up and the photographers ( Thanks to Luc Van Oost and the others)!
This was not my favourite stage thou, beside the end when we reach the church by the river and the village! what a sight! And the welcoming villagers with their awesome soup and beer just made the day looking better! Thank you Pitões das júnias! After everyone has arrived and eaten, we take the bus back to Montalegre for the prize ceremony. Again more amazing food ( especially the dessert!) We finished first mixed team so we got some cool trophies, heavy! but cool!

Our cool trophy! 

What an adventure! After the race, we stayed with the race organisation and help out on stage 6 in Geres, 38 km of pure joy! Enjoyed the views of stage 7 cheer up our friends! and actually resting with a canooning session and prize ceremony on Day 8!
A wonderful time we had and a race we highly recommend!!! We made friends from all over the world and discover Portugal in an unique way! Thanks Carlos!